New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson held his head in disbelief after Jericho Sims viciously posterized Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma during Monday’s 134-106 win.
The Knicks hosted the Wizards on the rear end of a back-to-back before setting off on a five-game road trip. And Sims’ thunderous slam encapsulated New York’s dominance in a clash during which it led by as many as 34 points.
Brunson was actually involved in the play, which took place halfway through the second quarter with the Knicks holding a 57-37 lead. The All-Star guard came off a screen set by Sims and then found him with a bounce pass as the 6-foot-10 center rolled to the basket.
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The Knicks big man split Jonas Valanciunas and Jordan Poole, finding himself one-on-one with Kuzma. He then threw down a one-handed slam over the Wizards star, hurling the ball into the net with his fingertips.
Many likened the jam to then-L.A. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan’s iconic poster dunk on Brandon Knight in a 2013 win over the Detroit Pistons.
Sims finished the game with seven points and seven rebounds. The former second-round pick has carved out a solid role for himself in the absence of the injured Mitchell Robinson, clocking 13.4 minutes per game and averaging 1.5 points and 3.9 rebounds this season.
After the game, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau lauded Sims’ growth. “He’s done a good job,” Thibodeau said.
“Defensively, he’s very good. And then I think as time goes on, he’s going to find that when there’s the overhelp to get out of his screens quicker and to put the pressure on the rim.
“And his athletic ability, I mean, he’s a freak athletically in terms of the things he can do. So I think having that vertical threat at the rim is huge for your offense.”
Earlier this week, Thibodeau noted that the way that Sims impacts the game doesn’t always show up in the box score, and that the 26-year-old complements Karl-Anthony Towns well.
“His screening and his ability to put pressure on the rim, it’s a different type of pressure,” the coach said. “KAT can play away from the basket, but Jericho’s going hard to the rim – and then what it also allows us to do is to switch more.
“He’s got great feet so that part is good.”
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